A MAN has been airlifted to hospital after he fell from a ladder while cutting trees in Rossendale.

The worker, who is in his 30s, was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital with back and chest injuries, a Lancashire police spokesman said.

Emergency services, including four crews from Rawtenstall fire station, were called to the scene opposite LJ&R Wholesale Footwear Ltd in Bacup Road, Waterfoot, at around 3.50pm.

The North West Ambulance Service said it attended the incident and took the man by land to a waiting air ambulance in Rawtenstall.

A spokeswoman said: “We got a call at 4pm to say that a male patient had fallen off a ladder.

“He landed near the water [the River Irwell] but didn’t actually fall in. Because of the location we send a heli-med, a rapid response vehicle and a normal ambulance.”

Bacup Road remains closed in both directions while the emergency services investigate the incident. The closure has caused delays to traffic, including Rosso bus services.